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Sad Puppies indeed.
Apr. 10th, 2015 10:00 pmSo I've been reading various blog posts, and Facebook links to blog posts, about the Sad/Rabid Puppies slates and how they gamed the Hugo Awards nomination process this year. I hate to start posting links, because I'm sure I'll miss some, and frankly I don't have time. If you don't already know what I'm talking about, Google something like "sad puppies hugo" and wade through the results.
However, I just had a thought: This whole fiasco, on the heels of GamerGate, makes me really glad I don't define myself through science fiction fandom. I don't depend on fandom for my friends and my social networks.
Yes, I like reading science fiction, though not a steady diet of it, and I like watching some SF/F movies, though not all. But I don't define who I am through it, and most of my core friends of associates have other interests in common with me, even if we met through SF or have attended cons together.
"But what about the SCA?" you say. "It's got loads of politics too!" Well, yeah. Every human organization of more than two people has politics. Hell, two-person couples have power struggles that can turn mighty damned vicious too. Been there, done that, got the restraining order to prove it. (Don't panic, folks, that was long ago.)
But I can't recall that the SCA has ever, in its history, gamed its own system in a *national* or *international* way in the manner of the Sad Puppies. And certainly I've never heard of SCA members pulling "swatting" or "doxxing" stunts on their so-called enemies. Anyone who *tried* such things on other members would be thrown out of the organization before you could say "membership revoked."
Also ... it's hard to put this into words, but as science fiction has gotten more mainstream and WAY more commercial, the SCA has not. Yeah, there are a few folks on the periphery who got into the SCA because of Tolkien or other high fantasy, but once they figure out that we don't want them to wear elf ears or satyr horns at our events or to call themselves Tauriel Skywalker, they either get with the historical aspects of the program or go find themselves a LARP.
And we don't have stars from Hollywood blockbuster movies and TV shows, and we don't have huge, multinational entertainment companies controlling our intellectual property. We're small-time artisans and craftspeople, we mostly trust each other, and we like it that way, thank you very much.
So, yeah, I'll continue to enjoy science fiction and fantasy on my own terms, and will occasionally attend a con or two. But to get all emotionally involved in fandom politics? Naaah.
However, I just had a thought: This whole fiasco, on the heels of GamerGate, makes me really glad I don't define myself through science fiction fandom. I don't depend on fandom for my friends and my social networks.
Yes, I like reading science fiction, though not a steady diet of it, and I like watching some SF/F movies, though not all. But I don't define who I am through it, and most of my core friends of associates have other interests in common with me, even if we met through SF or have attended cons together.
"But what about the SCA?" you say. "It's got loads of politics too!" Well, yeah. Every human organization of more than two people has politics. Hell, two-person couples have power struggles that can turn mighty damned vicious too. Been there, done that, got the restraining order to prove it. (Don't panic, folks, that was long ago.)
But I can't recall that the SCA has ever, in its history, gamed its own system in a *national* or *international* way in the manner of the Sad Puppies. And certainly I've never heard of SCA members pulling "swatting" or "doxxing" stunts on their so-called enemies. Anyone who *tried* such things on other members would be thrown out of the organization before you could say "membership revoked."
Also ... it's hard to put this into words, but as science fiction has gotten more mainstream and WAY more commercial, the SCA has not. Yeah, there are a few folks on the periphery who got into the SCA because of Tolkien or other high fantasy, but once they figure out that we don't want them to wear elf ears or satyr horns at our events or to call themselves Tauriel Skywalker, they either get with the historical aspects of the program or go find themselves a LARP.
And we don't have stars from Hollywood blockbuster movies and TV shows, and we don't have huge, multinational entertainment companies controlling our intellectual property. We're small-time artisans and craftspeople, we mostly trust each other, and we like it that way, thank you very much.
So, yeah, I'll continue to enjoy science fiction and fantasy on my own terms, and will occasionally attend a con or two. But to get all emotionally involved in fandom politics? Naaah.
